You know what I love about Ironman? It's not the race. Seriously, it's really not about the race for me.
No, I love the training. I really do. And I love how fit the training makes me feel.
I love it when I can go out and have a good solid long training day and not even feel tired afterward. Nap? Not needed.
I love it when riding for 95 miles doesn't feel long.
I love it when a steady 25 mph headwind on the bike doesn't phase me.
I love it that 2 hours is just a moderately long run.
I love it when I think I'm just swimming easy and slow but my training partners are red faced and panting and say, "That was not slow."
I understand that this awesome fit feeling cannot be maintained all year long. That's so sad. But I understand. So I'm trying not to take this time for granted. I am making conscious efforts to soak it all in- all this awesome fitness- because at some point in the future I'll very likely be (once again) carrying an extra 20-30 pounds in the form of an unborn baby and feeling like a Fat HOUSE with swollen ankles and it is at that time that I was be so completely nostalgic for this SuperFit feeling I've got right now...
So for the next 7 weeks, I'm gonna enjoy the heck out of this Ironman Training.
13 comments:
You're an animal!
Oh I totally know what you mean; I was feeling so great going into my last 8 weeks of IM training and love my improved aerobic fitness, I want to stay this way - you're telling me I can't? Doh (ya, I knew it but wanted to pretend I could keep going). I am hoping though that with some luck I can at least get pregnant knowing I'm the fittest I've ever been (to start) :) Happy to hear you guys are thinking of a sibling for Moana...
wow, you are inspiring! I hope to one day be at that level! Currently I'm just pretty stoked that I can get up and run at least a half marathon as a training run like it's no sweat :)
I need to races to motivate me to train, but like you, I enjoy the training way more than the races.
I loved being preggo and huge (well at least 35 lbs more). The one time in my life that I didn't worry about my waistline. I also was lucky to have an easy, easy pregnancy. However, I'm done.
continued good luck with your training.
I am the opposite of you- I LOVE to race IM, but do not enjoy the training. For me, it is 100% about the race. I enjoy being fit, but I never look forward to those long bike rides.
That is so exciting that you are talking about another baby :) I can't believe you thought carrying an extra 20-30 pounds made you feel like a fat house. I gained 58lbs and topped the scales just shy of 200lbs! It was weird to be so big and pregnant, but what really helped was knowing that on the inside there really is an IM athlete.
Enjoy the rest of your training!
Oh, I sooooo miss feeling super fit :-) I'll just live vicariously through you!
I know exactly the feeling you mean. When I was training for Boston I remember how those runs that seem wicked long now were just easy ones for me! I loved the way I felt! However an ironman...wow how awesome!!!
I am waiting for that 'aha!' moment after my long runs and track, where I don't feel like taking a nap :) It's fun to train for something though and you are kicking some serious butt!!
I'm not back to that fitness...but I miss it dearly! I think I like the races better, but that being said I've only done 1/2 IM...I haven't braved the whole shibang yet.
A sibling huh? sooner or later? Are we going to get a "guess what" post soon? Just kidding. Tim and I are talking about number 3...I think we're gonna start trying next summer though. I need a break.
So true! Enjoy :)
I love that feeling as well. I especially love the "I can eat whatever I want because I just rode my bike for 7 hours."
My local friend who was due on the same day me (Anna Baxter came early while Zach came late), is pregnant again. She wants me to join her. I am not ready - yet.
I really feel you...I love the training for a marathon, I love everything about it. But I, too, will be probably giving this up in the near future - promised the hubbs that if I qualify for Boston this year, right after Boston we will be serious about trying to have a fam.
Great job on the training, thanks for reminding me it is more about the journey than just the finish line. :)
I had a convo w/ some female mom co-workers about the recent Time article about how exercise doesn't impact weight/size. These women said that they no longer workout (one used to be a marathoner) and she thinks about all the time she "wasted" working out when she didn't have to [in order to be the same size]. I told them that if the study were true and exercise doesn't impact size (which I don't believe it does...sometimes I weigh more when I am working out more) I would keep exercising because it makes me feel so alive. Seems the same is true for you:>
Post a Comment